Multiple feeder mechanism



March 2e, 196s A E. s. GODLEWSK. 3,315,003

' MULTIPLFEEDE MEGHANISM Filed Aug. E3, 1966 2 Sheets-'Sheetl l' s4 sa|04, --i-f Jy I 59864. 25 lfs, g4 f'2 7 IlA IWI l Inventor [EdwardSGodjrIe'wski Bydff M Patented Mar. 26, 1968 3,375,003 MULTIPLE FEEDERMECHANISM Edward S. Godlewski, 531 Walnut St.,

Des Plaines, Ill.V 62526 Fired Aug. s, 1066, ser. No. 570,944 10 Claims.('Cl. 271-9) This invention relates to a feeding mechanism of the typeadapted yto feed sheet stock or cards to an associated processingmachine such as a printer or collator.

A primary object of the invention is to devise a novel feeder which willsimultaneously feed material from a plurality 4of sources and which isself-synchronizing.

The invention contemplates a mechanism which feeds a plurality of itemsat the same time from different supply sources and which comprisespull-out devices for each source and these devices being arranged toinitiate operation simultaneously so that the items arrive at the sametime at the receiving station, and the next pullout operation beingarranged to commence after termination of the operation of the devicehaving the longest feed cycle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel dual feeder formaterials of different lengths, the feeder comprising a tray dividedinto a plurality of sections stocking sheet material and the like ofdifferent lengths and delivering such material to feeding mechanismscomprising coaxially arranged sets of rollers disposed in alignment withrespective sections, the sets of rollers of each section beingcontrolled by separate one-way clutches and the mechanism driving oneset of rollers serving to connect and disconnect the clutch of the othersets of rollers, the feed rollers being operative for a sutiicientlength o f time to feed the items to continuously running pull-outroller means so that even through the cycle of feed of either of said ofsets of rollers should be less than the time it takes for the item topass through the feed rollers, that item once it is in the grasp of thepullout roller means is insured of being discharged.

These and other objects and advantages inherent in and encompassed bytheinvention will become more apparent from the specifications and thedrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of a feeding mechanism incorporating myinvention; Y

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 ofFIGURE 1; Y

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken substantiallyon line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 4 and 4a areV enlarged sectional views taken generally Online4--4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on line5-5 of FIGURE 1; and y FIGURE 6 isan enlarged cross-section takenessentially online 6-5 of FIGURE 5.

`Describing the invention in detail and khaving specific reference tothe drawings, the feed mechanism generally designated 2 is.shown mountedon a support structure 3 and'comprises a frame 4 including a pair ofupright side members 5, 6 forming the sides of a tray 7 which has aninclined bottom wall 8. The tray 7 has dependent flanges 10 on itsbottom wall 8 which are pivotally connected as by `a rod 12 to the upperend of a support rod 13 which lits through a vertical opening 14 in abracket 15, the bracket 15 being pivoted on a horizontal bar 16extending between and also secured to the side members 5 and 6.

The rod 9 is secured in vertically adjustedv position by a set screw 13to position the inclination of thebottom wall.3 about a lowerpivot-structure 19 to walls 5 and 6 to properly position its dischargeedge 20 to the retard assembly 2:1 and the feed roll assembly 22 whichstructure is described in my copending U.S. application entitled FeedingMechanism filed Apr. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 446,023 and which description isby reference incorporated herein.

In the present structure the tray 7 is divided into two side by sidefeeder sections 23, 24 by dividers 25 disposed intermediate members 5and 6 and presenting vertical sides. The upper ends of the dividers areformed with dependent lug structures 23 which pivot and permitadjustment of the dividers laterally between walls 5 and 6 on ahorizontal bar 29 which is secured to the flanges 10.

The tray section terminates at its lower end in said discharge edge 20from which the articles feed into a nip 31 between the feed rollerassembly 22 and the retard assembly 21. The feed roller assembly 22comprises a shaft 33 extending transversely of the tray above its loweredge, said shaft 33 extending through bearings 34, 35 in side framemembers 36, 37 of the main frame 23.

The shaft 33 journals a clutch quill 38 which has a grooved collar 39within which operates a fork 40 which extends upwardly through anopening 41 in a housing wall 42 of a housing 43 which is connected tothe external side of frame members 37. The fork 40 is adjustably xedlyconnected to a shifter shaft 44 which slidable mounts on upwardextensions 45, 46 of the housing wall 42. A biasing spring 47 is sleevedon shaft 44 and compressed between the fork 40 and the interior ofextension 46 and biases the fork in a direction engaging the clutch. Theouter end of the shaft 44 is bifurcated and pivotally supports on a pin48 a cam 49 which engages the external side 50a of the lug 4'5. The camis connected to a handle 50 which in FIG- URE 5 is shown in thedisconnected position ofthe clutch 51 which comprises interengaging jawelements 52, 53 on the quill 38 and the shaft 33.

The shaft 33 carries a pair of feed roller subassemblies 54, 55 whichare aligned with` the feeder sections 23, 24 respectively (FIG. 1).

The roller assembly 54 comprises a sleeve 56 sleeved over shaft 33 andconnected thereto a set screw 57 which mounts a collar 53 on the sleeve,the collar 58 forming an .abutment for one end of a brake spring 59which is sleeved over shaft 33 and bears against the internal side 60 ofside frame member 36 (FIG. l). Thus shaft 33 is prevented from rotatingfreely whenever the clutch mechanism 51 is shifted leftwardly (FIG. 5)to disengaged position whereupon the pawl 62, which is mounted on aradial flange 63 on one side of a pinion 64 which is journaled on thequill 38 and one-way drivingly connected thereto with a ratchet wheel 65with. which pawl 62 cooperates under the influence of spring 62a, iscaused to freely rotate about shaft 33 as the rack 66 moves in thedriving direction shown by the arrow in FIGURE 3, the rack riding on thelower edge on a pivoted slide assembly 68 fastened to the side member37. The rack is driven by a crank 70 which is a component of thereceiving mechanism such as a press. In the engaged position of clutch51, the rack drives the pinion 64 which drives the pawl 62 which in turndrives the rack 65 which drives the quill 38 and the quill drivesthrough the jaw clutch elements 52, 53 the shaft 33 which in turnrotates the pair of rubber or elastomer rollers 72, 713 which-areconnected to the sleeve 56 by set screws 74, 75 which are threaded tothe metal core portions of the rollers 72, 73 and abut the sleeve 56.Thus rollers 72, 73 are adjustable 70 axially on the sleeve 56.

The roller assembly 55 is similar to 54 and comprises a pair of rubberor elastomer rollers 77, 78 (FIG. 1) in- 3 tegrally connected tometallic cores 79, 80 which are sleeved on a cylindrical tube 81, saidtube 81 being rotatively mounted on shaft 33 and at one end abutting theadjacent end 82 of sleeve or tube 56 and at the other end beingconnected to a clutch 83a. The clutch 83a is connected as by a set screw82b (FIG. 5.) to a cylindrical coupling element 83 which abutsas at 84 acompanion coupling 85 which is connected as by set screw 86 t'o theshaft 33. Both couplings have central, cylindrical, codn'nensional areas86, 87 upon which is loosely mounted a clutch spring 88 half of itscoils 89 embracing surface 86 and the other half surface 87. The end ofthe clutch spring 88 upon surface 87 has a radially extending outturnedend portion 90 which projects through a slot 91 1n an operating sleeveor element 92, the sleeve 92 being rotatably mounted on its end portionson cylindrical shoulders 94, 95 on the coupling elements 83, 85. Thesprlng is so Wound that upon the sleeve 92 being free to rotate, thespring Winds up tightly engaging the coupling elements and driving theroller assembly 55. The sleeve 92 is provided with outwardly extendingstop or abutment pins 96, 97 which alternately are adapted to enter intoa slot 98 and abut against a stop 99 on one end of a clutch operatorgenerally designated 100 (FIGS. 1, 4 and 441:).

The operator 100 comprises an arm 101 connected to a pivot block 102which is pivoted on a rod 103 mounted from side wall 36, 37. The block102 carries a yieldable cam 104 Which comprises a support 105 having adownwardly sloping ramp with a spring finger 106 connected thereto andextending upwardly over the ramp and enA gaged by a cam bar 107 of anactuator 108, the bar being part of the adtuator 108 which is a bracketof U-shape and having its outer leg 109 overlapping the rack andconnected thereto adjustably by a slotted nut and bolt connection at 110as best seen in FIG. 3 so that the actuator rray be adjusted lengthwiseof the rack and vertically a so.

"lhus it will be noted at each time the roller assembly 54 1s driven theclutch 83a is engaged whereby the roller assembly 55 is also driven. Itwill be noted that clutch 51 may be disconnected and only assembly 55may be driven. However, the primary purpose of the instant mechanism 1sto feed two items simultaneously and it will be apparent that in thepresent structure even though the complete cycles of operation may bedifferent of the two roller sections 54, 55, the two sections willcommence their operations at the same time since both clutches willengage simultaneously and if one section runs longer than the other,then the clutches are overrun. In other words, clutch 83a is disengagedand clutch 51 is engaged, the roller section 54 will overrun the sectionS5. The items feed into a pair of continuously running pullout rollers112, 113 which are close to the pullout rollers, said rollers 112, whichmay be rubber being mounted on a free rolling upper shaft 114, the pairsof rollers 112, 113 being in alignment with sections 54, 55 to graspsheets therefrom.

The lower roller structure 113 is connected to a driven shaft 115journalled from walls 36, 37 and shaft 115 is driven by a chain andsprocket assembly 115a from a conveyor roller shaft 116 which is alsojournalled on walls 36 and 37, the shaft 116 being connected to asuitable power source by chain and sprocket 118 which is timed with thereceiving mechanism, namely, the printing apparatus (not shown).

The conveyor shaft 116 mounts conveyor tapes 120 which run along guides121 suitably mounted on the support and the tapes y120 carry the stock122, 123 fed from the trays beneath the hold down lingers 124 mounted onbar 103.

In order to control or stop overrunning of the roller assembly 55, abrake 12S is provided including a split band 126 adjustable about shaft81 and having a react-ion arm 127 mounted about and to rod 103.

I claim:

1. A plural feeding deviceconiprising a plurality of side-by-sidemagazines each adapted to contain stock to be fed in synchronism to anassociated receiving mechanism, 4a feed roller assembly associated witheach magazine for discharging the stock therefrom item-by-item, commondrive means for each said feed roller assemblies, clutch means betweeneach feed roller assembly and said drive means for individuallyconnecting and disconnecting the drive means thereto, pullout rollermeans disposed in grasping relation to stock items issuing from therespect-ive feed roller assemblies, Iand means for declutching theclutch means to selected feed roller assemblies to permit free Wheelingof said selected feed roller assemblies while the other of saidassemblies continue to be driven whereby stock items not entirelydischarged by the declutched feed roller assemblies are pulled outentirely by the pullout roller means While the clutched roller assemblyis operating.

2. The linvention according to claim 1 and brake means associ-ated witheach feed roller assembly to control overrunning thereof.

3. The invention according to claim 1 and said feed roller assembliesdisposed in axial alignment and said magazines each including a trayhaving a bottom inclined downwardly toward the respective feed rollerassembly and terminating in a discharge edge and retard means disposedat said lower edge of each tray bottom for regulating the discharge ofstock items from the respective magazine.

4. The invention laccording to claim 1 and at least one of said clutchmeans comprising driving and driven coaxial elements each presentingcylindrical concentric surfaces, a helical spring sleeved over bothsurfaces, said spring having a relaxed driving position with an innercoil diameter slightly less than said surf-aces and embracing Ithe same,a clutch operating sleeve element telescoped over said spring andconnected thereto for rotation therewith, and means having holdingposition with the sleeve for declutching said one clutch means byunwinding said spring whereby releasing the grasp of the coils of thespring with the driving and driven elements.

5. The invention according to claim 4 and brake means associated witheach feed roller assembly for retarding free rotation thereof upondeclutching the same.

6. The invention according to claim 1 and said common drive meansincluding a rack arm and pinion driving train, and said r-ack arm havinga timed driving connection with the associated receiving mechanism, andsaid declutching means including a connecting element adjustably securedto said rack arm and having a cam, Iand a trip linkage Lbetween 4aclutch of one of the assemblies and said cam engageable by the ca-m intimed sequence for engaging and disengaging the clutch.

v7. A feeding device according to claim 1 and said feed rollerassemblies mounted on a common shaft, one o-f said roller assembliesdirectly connected to said shaft, another of said assemblies rotatableabout said shaft, normally engaged clutch means between said shaft 'andsaid other assembly, and operating means connected between said drivingmeans and said last-mentioned clutch -means for controlling the same.

8. In a feeding device according to claim 1 and said common drive meanscomprising :a shaft mounting all of said assemblies, at least one ofsaid clutch means comprising driving and driven clutch elementsconnected respectively to one of said feed roller assemblies and to saidshaft, a helical spring sleeved over said clutch elements andfrictionally embracing the same, means for declutching said one clutchmeans including a sleeve telescoped over the spring and having a slotelongated axially of the spring, said spring having a transaxial portionextending into the slot and movable axially of the spring Within theslot pursuant `to winding up and unwinding of the spring attendant toclutching and declutching, and

means for grasping `and releasing the sleeve operatively connected tosaid drive means.

9, The invention Vaccording to claim 1 and said roller assembliescomprising rst and second units, said rst unit being intermittentlydriven for a predetermined period of time, and means for declutching thesecond unit within said period of time.

10. The invention according to claim 1 and said assemblies comprising apair of units and each magazine having `a tray with -a bottomterminating in a discharge edge adjacent to the respective assembly,said drive means comprising a shaft extending generally parallel withthe discharge edges of the trays and said roller assemblies mounted onthe shaft in .alignment with `respective trays,

6 and one of said feed roller assemblies driven for a longer time periodthan the other, and means for retarding free rolling of the other ofsaid assemblies While it is declutched to prevent overrunning.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,041,806 10/1912 King 270-462,479,060 8/1949 Davidson 270-58 2,770,456 11/1956 Margarinos et al.270-58 2,984,480 5/1961 Cunningham 271-9 3,175,821 3/1965 Gibson 271-9ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner.

1. A PLURAL FEEDING DEVICE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SIDE-BY-SIDEMAGAZINES EACH ADAPTED TO CONTAIN STOCK TO BE FED IN SYNCHRONISM TO ANASSOCIATED RECEIVING MECHANISM, A FEED ROLLER ASSEMBLY ASSOCIATED WITHEACH MAGAZINE FOR DISCHARGING THE STOCK THEREFROM ITEM-BY-ITEM, COMMONDRIVE MEANS FOR EACH SAID FEED ROLLER ASSEMBLIES, CLUTCH MEANS BETWEENEACH FEED ROLLER ASSEMBLY AND SAID DRIVE MEANS FOR INDIVIDUALLYCONNECTING AND DISCONNECTING THE DRIVE MEANS THERETO, PULLOUT ROLLERMEANS DISPOSED IN GRASPING RELATION TO STOCK ITEMS ISSUING FROM THERESPECTIVE FEED ROLLER ASSEMBLIES, AND MEANS FOR DECLUTCHING THE CLUTCHMEANS TO SELECTED FEED ROLLER ASSEMBLIES TO PERMIT FREE WHEELING OF SAIDSELECTED FEED ROLLER ASSEMBLIES WHILE THE OTHER OF SAID ASSEMBLIESCONTINUE TO BE DRIVEN WHEREBY STOCK ITEMS NOT ENTIRELY DISCHARGED BY THEDECLUTCHED FEED ROLLER ASSEMBLIES ARE PULLED OUT ENTIRELY BY THE PULLOUTROLLER MEANS WHILE THE CLUTCHED ROLLER ASSEMBLY IS OPERATING.